Striker Aaron Wilbraham just poked over the line to score the only goal of the game despite protests from the visitors, giving Dons their first League One win of the season.

But it could have been a very different result had Adebayo Akinfenwa brought his finishing boots with him, the big striker missing a glorious chance in second half injury time.

Just 15 miles separates the two towns but at times the game lacked the spark of a real derby and Dons ran out deserved winners with a dominant second half display.

The first half did have the feel of a real derby to it and both teams played some committed and attacking football.

The first decent opportunity fell to the home side after a good passing move ended with Dean Lewington crossing an inviting ball in the box. Wilbraham beat Chris Doig to the ball but couldn't head past Bunn who made a decent save.

Minutes later Mark Wright might have done better as he blazed over from 20 yards.

Cobblers got more dangerous as the half went on and had the best chance on the half hour mark.

Calamitous defending let Akinfenwa clean through on goal but with all the time in the world the big striker fluffed his left footed shot wide.

Minutes later he robbed the ball from Danny Swailes and unleashed a decent shot from 25 yards that Willy Gueret pushed wide.

Dons started to impose themselves in the second half and controlled possession.

They created their first chance after a fluid and patient passing move ended with the ball finding Wright on the wing. He beat his man and sent an accurate cross to the back post for Florian Sturm who unopposed somehow headed wide from close range.

Thankfully the woeful Austrian was taken off soon afterwards and his replacement Shaun Cummings looked more dangerous within seconds of being on as he hit a snap shot just over.

And the deadlock was broken soon after in controversial fashion.

Wilbraham scrambled Peter Leven's corner over the line at the back post from close range, despite the efforts of Danny Jackman on the line who claimed to have cleared.

His protests were in vain though as the assistant referee gave the goal.

Dons continued to dominate and with just over 10 minutes to go should have sealed the game when substitute Kevin Gallen got on the end of Lewington's superb through-ball but couldn't find a way past Bunn with his left footed shot across goal.

He was through again minutes later but Gabor Gyepes got across to block his shot as Cobblers offered little going forward.

In the last moments of the game the visitors finally showed some threat and in injury time Leon Constantine beat Jude Stirling to the ball and fed Akinfenwa through on goal, but the imperious Willy Gueret closed him down well and blocked his shot when a goal looked nailed on.

MK Dons: Gueret, Lewington, Swailes (Stirling 71), O'Hanlon, Regan, Sturm (Cummings 62), Leven, Navarro, Wright, Wilbraham, Baldock (Gallen 62)

Subs: Abbey, Cummings, Johnson, Stirling, Gallen
Goals: Wilbraham 66

Northampton: Bunn, Crowe, Jackman Hughes, Gyepes, Doig (Coke 72 booked), Constantine, Akinfenwa, Davis, Gilligan (Larkin 82), Gutteridge (Osman 55)

Subs: Coke, Larkin, Holt, Dunn, Osman

Attendance 12, 078